Seven inmates entered the Territorial Prison at Yuma, Arizona in July 1876. They were locked into dismal cells they had constructed themselves. A total of 3069 prisoners, including 29 women, served their time in the prison for the next 33 years. During that period, many prisoners died from disease and natural causes. Five inmates committed suicide, including one prison guard as he stood at the Sallyport entrance. Some of the inmate’s spirits may still be lurking in the shadows behind the bars. 
The Yuma Territorial Prison was considered a modern institution where prisoners had a good hospital, education and a well stocked library. Cleanliness and showers was required and there was always a barber on duty for the prisoners.
The “Dark Cell” was used for solitary confinement for rule breakers. Although no one died in the dark cell, some went mad during their punishment and had to be transferred to the insane asylum in Phoenix. An Arizona Highway’s reporter opted to spend the night in the Dark Cell for a story she was working on. Within a few hours she had enough and wanted out! She claimed someone…or perhaps a ghost…was in the cell with her.
By 1907 the prison was overcrowded due to the growing Arizona Territory. Again, by using a work force of convicts, a new prison facility was built in Florence, Arizona. The last prisoners from Yuma were transferred to Florence by September 1909. From 1910-1914 the Yuma prison buildings were occupied by Yuma High School. Later the empty cells were taken over by hobos and drifters riding the rails near by. During the Great Depression of the 1920’s and 30’s, homeless families found shelter in the deserted prison walls.
I was very fortunate when I began planning my October 2008 spirit photo workshop at the Yuma Territorial Prison. My very good friend, Don Swain who has headed up the Yuma Spirit Hunters for several years, is also an Arizona State Park Ranger at the facility. Only Yuma Spirit Hunters and the MVD Ghostchasers have ever been granted permission to hold a workshop and spend the entire night in the historic prison.
At 5PM, on October 11, 2008, thirty-nine new inmates were about to enter the doors of the Yuma Territorial Prison and be locked in until dawn…or paroled during the night—which ever happened first! Bravely the ghost hunters passed through the Sallyport where hundreds have walked before them. Under the watchful eye of ghostly sentries in the guard tower, we all signed a large poster board after being “thumb printed” with finger paint. Inside the museum, Cindy took a mug shot of each and every inmate as they filed into the building. Sleeping bags, cameras, and ghost hunting equipment was stored in an adjoining holding room. Employees say that items in the museum have been known to move on their own—or lights will turn on and off. 
Don briefly explained the do’s and don’ts of our evening activities. We then broke into three smaller groups to explore the complex in the daylight so we could determine where cameras should be set up during the over night investigation. What still remains of the original prison are several cell blocks, the base of the original guard tower, Sallyport, the Dark Cell, and many of the iron bunks and cell doors. We visited the prison cemetery where 104 inmates are buried on a hillside over looking the Colorado River. Each grave is marked by a pile of stones.
At dark, James Kelly of Arizona Paranormal Investigations conducted a controlled EVP session in what is called the “New Yard”. We gathered around in a circle and called in the spirits. We chatted with the ghostly inmates using old convict lingo and hoped one of them would respond to our questions.
During the course of the night some of the investigators were ‘paroled’ and retreated back to their hotels or drove back to Phoenix. Those that stayed were treated to a great buffet ‘chow line’ provided by the MVD Ghostchasers and many of the guests. As always, the Dark Cell attracted many of the ghost hunters. We conducted our second EVP session in the Dark Cell around midnight.
Late into the night a group of investigators kept a vigil outside the cell of John Ryan—one of the most notorious convicts at Yuma. He was convicted of “crimes of nature” and later committed suicide in his cell in 1903. The ghost hunters heard and felt movement in his cell—some even “saw” his shadow pacing back and forth in the rear of the small chamber.
We took a shot at debunking an old 1930 photo of a lady standing in front of the barber shop with what looks like a ghostly inmate standing in the doorway. Don took a recent shot of the area we used to compare—then and now.
Dead time at 3am was continually interrupted by the sounds of the never ending freight trains racing over the tracks near by. Earlier, EVP’s were declared contaminated due to the fact there was a fiesta across the river. Not knowing a band and fireworks were scheduled the same night as our investigation put a damper on the EVP work.
Is the Yuma Territorial Prison haunted? Several investigators felt an unsettling presence in the cell blocks. It's a night many of us will always remember. There are only a handful of paranormal investigators that can honestly say they spent the entire night in the old Yuma Territorial Prison, survived the elements, and then paroled back into the reality of the present world at dawn.
Contact the Park for current hours of operation
(928) 783-4771
Yuma Territorial Prison
1 Prison Hill Road
Yuma, AZ 85364
Yuma Territorial Prison
1 Prison Hill Road
Yuma, AZ 85364
Photos courtesy of several members of the workshop crew.
For more info: www.mvdghostchasers.com
Debe Branning nazanaza@aol.com
Comments
I like the dark cell--spooky!
A really interesting article to read. The place really looks Southwestern.
It is an awesome haunted place to spend the night--very eerie!
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